For safety purposes, the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors votes to decrease the water level at which temporary closures of the Elkhorn River access sites are made.
Until the vote, the Papio NRD would close the access sites when the water gauge at Waterloo read a stage height of five feet or greater.
The access sites will now close when the water gauge reads a stage height of four feet or greater.
Papio-Missouri River NRD General Manager John Winkler says the Elkhorn River has degraded at least two feet over the past five years, likely due to the large flood events that have occurred, making for higher water levels, increased water flows, and no visible sandbars.
Winkler says this makes recreation more dangerous.
Winkler says recreation is more conducive at the new stage height as sandbars are either visible or just below the surface.
The Elkhorn River Access Sites include Elkhorn Crossing, at the intersection of 252nd & Bennington Road, West Maple Road, West Maple northeast of Waterloo, and Graske Crossing, southeast corner of West Dodge Road & west of 204th St.
(Picture from Getty Images)